Expanding Heart Connections

HeartMath is committed to helping activate the heart of humanity. They suggest that by creating an alignment and connection between our mind and heart, and with each other’s hearts, we awaken the higher mental, emotional and spiritual capacities that are dormant within us. Compassion, Resonance and Transformation are the core values that underlie their business.

Heather Hayward is a Licensed HeartMath Trainer who leads workshops and works in private practice helping people learn the techniques and technology from the Institute of HeartMath. For over thirty years, Hayward has dedicated her career to the field of personal well-being. As a Results Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Meditation Teacher, author and speaker, she successfully works with a diverse client population in one-on-one and group settings connecting them to their heart, producing sustainable change through Comfort, Humor and Inspiration (C.H.I.).

Specializing in creating custom written guided meditations for actors to business owners, writers to lawyers, youth to mature clients, and everything in between, these recordings support them to quickly self-correct, reduce negative self-talk and stay committed to their positive changes.

Since ’tis the season for heightened stress and potential holiday tension among families, and since Gratitude Lab is shining a spotlight on nurturing gratitude within families, we sat down with Hayward to ask for some tips to get through to the New Year. Continue Reading…

Dr. Carter takes “the pursuit of happiness” to a whole new level. In our gratitude film series, it only made sense to connect with the “Happiness Expert” for our film on the same subject. Happiness – it turns out – is hard work… with incredible rewards. We were excited, therefore, to have the chance once again to discuss the topic in this intimate interview and to share the conversation here with you. We hope you will discover great joy from this conversation – as well as meaningful insight and suggestion. Continue Reading…

Last week, Louie was honored to be asked to speak at the Big Sur Foragers Festival at Post Ranch. As you can see, Big Sur is a magical place along the coastline of California. This was the setting for Louie to share his moving imagery, scientific research, mindful examinations and heart-felt stories. The topics of gratitude, fungi and visual healing were interwoven and unified by Louie’s belief that we protect that with which we fall in love. Conscious mindfulness plays a key role in this conversation, as described eloquently in this 3 minute film… Continue Reading…

Laughter may actually be the best medicine! People define happiness in many different ways, but at its core, leading researchers have proven that happiness involves feeling positive emotions, expressing that life is good and meaningful. Understanding, accepting and living this idea of happiness reduces your risk of heart disease, strengthens your immune system, and might ultimately add years to your life. Continue Reading…

Did you know that our brains are just as effective as our bodies when fighting off illness? A study of the brain conducted by Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that after just eight weeks of training, practicing mindfulness boosts our immune system’s ability to fight off illness. Given this, it’s a little strange that mindfulness—paying attention to whatever you’re thinking, feeling, or sensing in a given movement—isn’t universally seen as more than just meditation. Continue Reading…